Venetian blind structure



March 4, 1952 5, K 2,587,859

' VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 II M fnemior March 4, 1952 R. s. KING VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 4, 1952 2,587,859

R. 5. KING VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. 8. KING VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE March 4, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 23 1951 J Nu m 5 y 2 7 fi\ x t FOAW & w w \i 7 March 4, 1952 R. s. KING VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23,

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Robert S. King, Oak Park, 111.

Application February 23, 1951, Serial No. 212,251

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a window blind of the Venetian blind type, and more particularly to a blind having vertically disposed vanes. The vanesare adapted to be moved transversely back and forth across the window, and they also are adapted to be rotated on their vertical axes.

One object of the invention is to provide a blind of this character that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easily installed and readily adaptable to any size of window opening.

Another object is to provide in a blind of this character a unitary means for supporting the vane which cooperates to move the individual vane transversely of the window and which also cooperates to effect vane rotation. Prior blinds of this general character have resorted to two separate and distinct mechanisms for respectively traversing the vanes and rotating them. However, in the present blind these two vane actions are both eifected by a single vane supporting device.

Still another object is to provide a simplified means cooperating with the vane actuators for rotating the latter in order to vary the angle of rotation of the vanes. This means acts uniformly on all the vane actuators and insures that the vanes rotate on their axes in unison and that the vanes are maintained in parallelism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one structural form of the invention. It is to be understood, of course, that in commercial applications of the invention various details might well vary somewhat from those here shown and described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a window provided with the blind of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View, partly broken away, showing various details of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4- of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6-10 are perspective views showing various details of the invention, and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line H-I| of Fig. 5..

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, my improved Venetian blind is illustrated in mounted position in a window [5. The blind comprises a head frame It mounted at the top of the window opening. A plurality of vertical vanes or slats I! extend downwardly from head frame I5 and terminateadjacent windowsill l8.

In Fig. 1 vanes I! are illustrated in their fully open position, that is, they are so rotated as to occupy vertical planes normal to the plane of the window. Mechanism is provided, as will be seen, to rotate the vanes through 90 in either direction from the Fig. 1 vane position so as to close the blind completely. The mechanism, of course,

permits the vanes to be rotated to various positions intermediate the open and closed positions.

vanes I! in Fig. l are uniformly distributed across the entire window width. Mechanism is provided, as will be seen, to move the vanes transversely across the Window so that, if de sired, all the vanes may be gathered adjacent one window side. The transverse vane positions intermediate the two extremes also are possible. Regardless of the location of the vanes transversely of the window, the vane rotating mechanism is at all times effective to rotate all the vanes simultaneously to any desired angular position.

The various mechanisms for performingthe above mentioned operations will now be described, reference being had to additional figures of the drawings.

Referring to Fig. 2, head frame l6 includes a floor 20 and two end walls 2|. Floor 25 has a longitudinal slot 22 extending substantially from end to end, one end of the slot, for example the left end, being enlarged as shown at 23.

A plurality of vane actuators 25 are carried by head frame [6, the vane actuators being disposed vertically and extending through slot 22. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 11, a vane actuator 25 has a circular neck region 26 of reduced cross section intermediate its ends, and the diameter of this neck region is slightly less than the width of slot 22. The vane actuators 25 are adapted to be inserted in slot 22 through enlargement 25, the neck regions of the actuators being received within slot 22. Vane actuators 25, of course, are free to move longitudinally along the slot, but they are restrained from appreciable vertical motion by the shoulders at either end of the neck region 26. u

The upper ends of vanes H are connected in a rigid manner with the portions of the respective vane actuators 25 that extend below floor 2%. Any suitable rigid connection may be used. and, as illustrated, the lower portion of a vane actuator 25 may be looped as at 2'! (Figs. 3 and 4.) to form a detachable fastener. This. type of connection the right of the left vane actuator.

makes it easy to assemble the vanes as well as to remove the individual vanes for cleaning or replacement.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the lower ends of vanes I1 are provided respectively with fittings 28 which preferably also are detachably associated with the vane. The lower portion of each fitting 29 is secured in a manner to be later described.

An endless and flexible traverse cord 30 (Figs. 2, 4 and is provided to control the traverse action of the blind. The remote loops of cord 39 pass respectively around pulley 3|, located at the left end of head frame [6, and pulley 32, located at the left end of the windowsill. Intermediate the pulleys 3| and 32, the generally parallel lengths of cord 30 pass over two Side by side pulleys 33 and 34, located at the right end of head frame [6, and two side by side pulleys 35 and 36 located at the right end of the window sill. Between the two pairs of side by side pulleys the cord lengths extend vertically along the window side. Cord 30 should be taut when properly in place on these pulleys.

One of the lengths of traverse-cord 30 extending vertically along the window side may contain a splicer 31 (Figs. 1 and for joining together the two ends of cord 30. Splicer 3'! enables the cord to be properly tensioned, and permits occasional adjustment as the cord stretches in length. Also, it is conveniently grasped for moving the cord up or down in traversing the blind.

One of the two lengths of traverse cord 30 extending across head frame 16 is generally parallel with slot 22 in floor' 29. This length at one point is attached to the left-most vane actuator 25. Any suitable form of attachment may be used, and in the drawings I have illustrated one suggested form.

This form, shown in detail in Fig. 8, comprises a generally L-shaped member 40. One leg of the member) has end notches that receive a loop of traverse cord 39, the loop being secured to the leg by means of a band 4|. Thus member 40 is fixed in its relation with cord 39. The other leg of member 40 has an end slot 42 that engages the portion of the left vane actuator 25 immediately above frame floor 20 (Figs. 2 and 4). It will be seen that movement of traverse cord 39 in either direction produces a corresponding movement of the left vane actuator 25, and, of course, the vane I! carried thereby.

A stop 43 (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted in head frame I6 is engaged by L-shaped member 40 to limit the traverse movement of cord 30. Thus the left vane actuator 25 is prevented from reaching the enlarged end of slot 22.

Adjacent vane actuators 25 are connected by spacer cords 44, best shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 'I. As illustrated, an elongated ring 45 is carried on leg 42 of L-shaped member 40, and a spacer cord 44 extends from this ring to a ring 46 loosely surrounding the vane actuator 25 immediately to The remaining vane actuators 25 each have rings 46 to which spacer cords 44 are secured. The right hand spacer cord 44 (Fig. 5) has its free end anchored to ring 41 which is mounted on floor 20. The length of spacer cords 44 corresponds .with the desired extended spacing between adjacent vanes.

Vanes I1, referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, may be gathered (bunched) at the right hand side of the window by appropriately moving traverse cord 39. This action moves the left vane actuator 29 and associated vane I! in a direct manner, and as longitudinal slot 53.

' opening.

this unit is moved along slot 22, the other vane actuators move before it, the spacer cords 44 collapsing as the movement progresses. Reverse action of cord 30 moves the left vane actuator 25 and vane I! to the left. Spacer cords 44 function to cause the remaining vane actuators 25 to follow the left vane actuator with proper extended spacing.

As previously mentioned, traverse cord 30 extends along windowsill 18 adjacent the lower ends of vanes [7. An L-shaped member 48, shown in detail in Fig. 6, generally comparable in structure and function to the previously described member 40, is secured to a point on cord 30 immediately below the left vane ll. Member 48 engages the fitting 28 on the lower end of this vane, thereby providing a connection between the vane and cord 3|]. The remaining vanes I! have their respective lower fittings 28 provided with vane guides fashioned in the form of a loop 49 (Figs. 2 and 3) which encircles one windowsill length of cord 39, and spacer cords 50 extend between the respective loops. The left hand spacer cord 55 extends-between the L-shaped member 48 and the loop 49 of the vane immediately to the right. The right spacer cord 59 is anchored to a ring 51 (Fig. 3) fastened to the windowsill adjacent pulleys 35 and 36. This arrangement provides a traversing force at the bottom of vanes IT and insures that the vanes will at all times be aligned vertically, and will move in parallelism.

The upper portion of the respective vane actuators 25 is shaped to form a cam which cooperates to rotate the vanes about their vertical axes. As illustrated, this upper portion i generally rectangular in cross section with its thickness small compared to its width. The portion, in each instance, is twisted on its vertical axis through an angle of at least The twists in all the vane actuators 25 are similar as to vertical location and amount of twist.

Referring to Fig. 2, an elongated member 52 extends from one end of head frame IE to the other. Member 52 is provided with a narrow The cam portions of vane actuators 25 extend through slot 53 in member 52. As will be seen, the vertical position of member 52 determines the angular orientation of vane actuators 25 and, of course, the associated vanes. Up and down movement of member 52 produces a uniform rotational movement of all the vanes i'l.

Slotted member .52 has its ends respectively carried by brackets 54, each of which has a finger 55 provided with an internally threaded cylindrical opening. These openings receive vertically disposed threaded studs 53 that carry sprockets 51 at their lower ends. Studs 56 are journalled in floor 29 of head frame 56. An endless chain 58 connects the sprockets 51.

A rotation control cord 59 passes around a pulley 55 mounted at the left in head frame I 5.

The two lengths of cord 59 extending away from pulley 55 pass over side by side pulleys" 6| and 52 mounted at the right hand end of head frame H5 and hang vertically at the side of the window One length of cord 59 in the head frame is generally parallel with one length of chain 58, as best shown in Fig. 5. A fitting 64 (Figs. 5 and 9), carried by this length of cord 59, has a projection 55 that engages chain 58 in a suitable manner. As shown, projection 55 is formed to constitute one link of chain 58.

By pulling on one or the other of the hanging ends of cord 59, chain 58, by reason of fitting 64, is moved to rotate sprockets 51. The threaded studs 56 associated with sprockets 51 in turn rotate with the result that fingers 55 and the brackets carried thereby move in an up or down direction, depending on the direction of rotation of thestuds. In this manner slotted member 52, carried by brackets 54, is moved up or down to cooperate with the cams of the vane actuators 25 and rotate vanes I 1. It will be noted that the cam portion of each vane actuator 25 is always in contact with the slot edges in member 52, so that the angular position of vanes I! cannot be changed without vertical movement of member 52. This insures that vanes I! will always have a uniform angle of rotation.

To summarize, it will be seen that I have provided a vertical vane Venetian blind wherein unitary vane actuators 25 cooperate to effect both the traverse action and the rotating action of the vanes. The vane actuators 25, in their relation to the remaining blind structure, are instrumental in moving vanes I! back and forth across the window, as well as in rotating the vanes to fully open, fully closed, or intermediate angular positions. Also, I have provided an improved means which cooperates with the vane actuators to produce the rotating action. This means insures that the vanes rotate in unison and maintain their desired parallelism.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Various changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or losing the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a window blind having a head frame with a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vertically disposed vanes, and a plu-' rality of vane actuators arranged within said slot and respectively supporting said vanes, the combination of traversing means and means for rotating said vane actuators. said traversing means comprising a traverse control cord for 1 moving said vane actuators in a horizontal plane across said head frame, each of said actuators having an elongated upper portion, said elongated portion being twisted at least 180 on its vertical axis, said rotating means being adapted to rotate said vane actuators 180 about their vertical axes and said rotating means comprising a slotted member embracing the elongated portions of said vane actuators, said slotted member having internally threaded means, threaded studs engaging said threaded means for controlling vertical movement of said slotted member perpendicularly in relation to said headframe, and means for rotating said studs in synchronism.

2. A window blind comprising a head frame having a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vertically disposed elongated members carried by said frame and extending through said slot, each member having a reduced neck portion intermediate its ends to receive the slot edges, said members being movable along said slot, the upper end portion of each member being twisted through at least 180 on its vertical axis, each said member being rotatable angularly in relation to its vertical axis, a plurality of vertically disposed vanes. said vanes being operatively connected at their upper end portions to the lower end portions of said members for movement therewith, a slotted element embracing an upper portion of each member to fix the angle of rotation of said members and the vanes carried thereby, and means for moving said slotted element vertically to vary the angle of rotation of said vanes, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of internally threaded members fixed to said slotted element, a pair of threaded studs engaging said threaded members, and means for turning said studs in synchronism in relation to said member whereby to'rotate said actuators and said vanes in synchronism.

3. In a window blind having a head frame with a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of vane actuators extending through said slot and a plurality of vertically disposed vanes supported by said actuators, the upper end portion of each actuator being twisted through at least on its vertical axis, a rotation control mechanism arranged to rotate said vane actuators 180 about their vertical axes, said rotation control mechanism comprising a vertically movable longitudinally slotted member embracing an upper portion of said actuators whereby vertical movement of said slotted member will fix the angle of rotation of said actuators, a pair of internally threaded members secured to said slotted member, a pair of threaded studs engaging said threaded members whereby upon rotation of said studs to move said slotted member vertically, a pair of pulleys secured to said studs respectively, flexible driving means connecting said pulleys for rotating said pulleys and said studs in synchronism, clasping means claspingly engaging said driving means, and a shiftable rotation control cord removably fastened to said clasping means for driving said driving means whereby to rotate said studs and move said slotted member vertically.

4. In a window blind of the Venetian blind type having a head frame with a slot extending longitudinally thereof, a rotation control mechanism comprising a plurality of vane actuators extending through said slot, the upper end portion of each actuator being twisted through at least 180 on its vertical axis, said actuator being rotatable angularly in relation to its vertical axis, each of said actuators being rigidly connected at its lower end portion to the upper end portion of a vane of said blind, a slotted element embracing an upper portion of each actuator to fix the angle of rotation of said actuators, a pair of internally threaded members secured to said slotted member, a pair of threaded studs engaging said threaded members whereby upon rotation of said studs to move said slotted member vertically, a pulley secured to each of said studs, flexible chain driving means connecting said pulleys for rotating said pulleys and said studs in synchronism, clasping means claspingly engaging said driving means and a shiftable rotation control removably fastened to said clasping means for driving said driving means whereby to rotate said studs and move said slotted member up and down.

ROBERT S. KING.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Reimuller June 12, 1951 

